How Much Coffee is TOO Much?
How Much Coffee Is Too Much?
Anyone else relying on a little extra coffee lately? Balancing work, online learning, and non-stop parenting is tough -- not to mention that days are long and temperaments can change hourly. But what might be making me craziest is my inability to feel productive.
Granted, I had a productivity addiction/issue before COVID-19. There’s nothing that I love more than making a to-do list and then checking it off. And, yes, I know that we are supposed to give ourselves some grace in this scary, uncharted period. But I’ve scaled back those daily list, and still feel like I struggle to get anything completed.
And. This. Drives. Me. Crazy. So, I make another list and get another cup of coffee.
Even though your issue may be completely different from my productivity one, I’ve noticed that grabbing another cup of coffee – or other form of caffeine – seems to be a constant that a lot are relying on. So what’s the story on coffee? I’m answering four questions I’ve gotten lately about coffee and caffeine.
#1) Is coffee good or bad?
Coffee isn’t bad for you. There’s no conclusive research to suggest the drinking moderate amounts each day increases cancer risk or blood pressure. And, some suggests that it may even decrease risk for Parkinson’s, type 2 diabetes, and liver disease (1).
#2) What is “moderate” coffee consumption?
It depends on the caffeine amount. Research suggests little risk for consuming 3-4 cups a day (or up to 350-400mg caffeine). However, many advise staying under 300mg caffeine daily (1, 2).
#3) What does 300mg caffeine look like?
This will look completely different for each person depending on preference and availability. But here are some quick caffeine numbers to add up to keep tabs on daily intake. There’s a difference between regular and decaf, but there’s also a big difference between a K-cup and Starbuck’s. Check out this list of caffeine in common coffees, drinks and foods.
#4) So is there really little to worry about when it comes to drinking coffee?
Well, I didn’t say that. Caffeine can affect sleep because it’s takes the body six to ten hours to fully metabolize it. And even if you don’t think caffeine is affecting your sleep, it may be stopping you from getting deep, restorative sleep, and, when ongoing, this is connected to major health issues. A sleep expert that interviewed last year told me that he recommends getting caffeine in before early afternoon to get the best sleep that night.
What other questions do you have about coffee or caffeine? Let me know below!
1. An evidence-based approach to phytochemicals and other dietary factors, 2d ed. (2013, August 1). The Free Library. (2013). Retrieved April 11, 2020 from https://www.thefreelibrary.com/An evidence-based approach to phytochemicals and other dietary...-a0338399832
2. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/spilling-beans-how-much-caffeine-too-much
